Nudis, bugs and other monti & acro predators

[albert]

I recently got a coral (monti?) in very bad shape from my friend. There are some branches that could be saved though. Using Ogles mesoscope I discovered a nest of creatures on it.

http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/dsc03291.jpg
http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/dsc03291-1.jpg
http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/nudib.jpg

A short video of them is <<here>> (http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/nudib.avi)

Are they evil nudibranches? How to get rid of them?

Thanks

[gman0526]

Awesome as always Albert, finding stuff most of us don't even look for.

[albert]

Here's yet another on second acro :? This one looks like sort of bug :evil: :evil: I isolated both corals until will get some good advice from you :roll:

http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/dsc03295.jpg

[FishinInTheDark]

I wish I had some advice for you, Albert. I would definitely suspect the nudis of foul play, since they're on a coral that is ailing so badly. Sadly,we'll have to wait for a true expert to offer some advice. . .

[gman0526]

Those sure look like nasty acro red bugs. There's a discussion here somewhere, gotta look for it though.....

[Doctor_Reef]

Ditto's those look like the nasty red acro bugs..... :(

[albert]

I got a better picture now, definitely nudibranches :evil: Is the common name "red acro bug" a synonym of them? They do not look much red though :wink:

http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/dsc03296.jpg

[albert]

Is the common name "red acro bug" a synonym of them? Found the answer already, red acro bugs" are not nudibranches.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/rs/
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/june2003/feature.htm

Made a FW dip and lot of nudis fell off. Let's see how the coral will survive.

Found yet another bug, not red though. Does anybody know is this a good or bad guy?
http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/imag0001.jpg http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/maim1.jpg

More... The fat one on the right could be a flatworm, right? The small round dot on the left is almost transparent with black dot on its back and crawling around.
http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/imag0008.jpg

[FishinInTheDark]

Albert,

I know you're full of questions, and not getting any real answers. I wish I could help more, but these tiny things are outside my scope of experience. I hate to send you elsewhere for answers, but you might try posting your pics in Dr. Ron Shimek's forum on RC. They do a lot of IDing the uncommon creatures.

Let us know what you find out, so we can all learn!

[albert]

Never mind, Conni :wink: We all are still learning. Will do, actually I thought that Doctor_Reef is Dr. Ron himself. :lol:

[Doctor_Reef]

Heheheh.... :lol: Not even in the same ball park or close to the same league!!!!! I would also recommend you show those to Dr. Ron....Conni is right on there....He is the expert...MikeS may know what they are... I do know that the one is a flat worm...and I have seen pics of the black and white one and can't remember where I saw that....I believe it was in one of his articles on identifying these critters...I will see if I can find it!!!

[albert]

to Doctor_Reef: If you aren't Dr. Ron what kind of doctor are you? :w00t:

Well, I got reply from real Dr. Ron:
The nudibranchs will probably be removed by another dip or two. You are right - this dipping stresses the corals and may kill them. Alternatively, you can examine the corals and pick off the snails.

None of the bugs you have imaged is predatory on corals. They are all scavenger ampipods, and none are the so-called "red bugs."

The two animals in the last images are both likely flatworms. My guess is that they are harmless, but it is hard to tell.
BTW, the pictures may be not accessible today from 22 till 06 GMT due to planned software updates by my ISP. Sorry :(

[Condiman]

Now wouldnt a salinity drop also make them drop. Instead of doin a FW dip just make a small batch of sw maybe at 1.010 to see if they drop off that way. Because I would think that would be easier on the coral.

[Doctor_Reef]

to Doctor_Reef: If you aren't Dr. Ron what kind of doctor are you? :w00t:

Certainly not everyone has a doctorate in marine biology, or we wouldn’t need help from the experts...!!! I have a doctorate in Education, and Theology...in education I majored in the Sciences, taught high school sciences!!!

Would love to have the marine knowledge that Dr. Ron has but wouldn't we all!!!!

By the way Glad those were all good guys....That makes it nice...takes away the worries.... :lol: You certainly have a talent for taking very great pictures of very small critters.... :thumbsup:

[FishinInTheDark]

Good response time from the OTHER Dr. Ron, too! I'm glad you've found some answers.

[albert]

Thank you all, it was very nice conversation 8)

Henn,
PhD in computer sciences

[albert]

A close-up of my acro-eating nudibranch, length about 3 mm (1/8").

http://hepatus.mine.nu/aquarium/pics/dsc03304.jpg

[FishinInTheDark]

Nice mugshot of the perpetrator!

[Doctor_Reef]

Nice little critter....Definitely bizarre looking guy!!!! And definitely not a red acro bug.... Much better picture....